Paul Mitchell Schools Raise $2.6M for Charity

(BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – May 5, 2013) – At a time when most nonprofits are seeing declining donations, 16,000 cosmetology students and staff members from the nationwide network of Paul Mitchell Schools raised $2.6 million in three months, surpassing their goal, hitting their tenth consecutive all-time high, and bringing their grand total to over $11.2 million.

“This doesn’t happen in one night or one big show,” said Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh. “We call it a FUNraising marathon. It’s fun because our future professionals dream up creative ways to raise the money, such as “Studs and Suds” car washes, cut-a-thons, telethons, and fashion shows for people and pets. And it’s a three-month marathon that involved over 4,000 events by our 101 schools to reach this year’s goal.”

The 10th anniversary celebration was a full-scale love fest at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, with Winn and co-host Kathy Buckley recognizing and acknowledging guests from the 11 supported charities along with many superstar celebrities and industry icons in the audience.

Cancer Schmancer told us we’re their most consistent partner in terms of our ongoing support. Magic Johnson Foundation said the funds from Paul Mitchell Schools were the largest gift secured at one time for their HIV/AIDS efforts. And the Gary Sinise Foundation said we’re at the very top of their list of top donors.” – Winn Claybaugh

“Thank you for making my beloved Morris Animal Foundation your partner again this year. We appreciate it and your donation will be put to good use, I promise you. I am so thankful to all the future professionals who made an evening like this happen and who made the Morris Animal Foundation worthy of your trust.”– Betty White (Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland), Trustee Emeritus, Morris Animal Foundation

“Whenever you happen to be in a room full of world changers, you know. That’s what you people are. Regardless of what’s happening in the world, in your state, in your town, or in your house financially, you continue to raise more and more money for those people that you care about so much – the children in Haiti, the children here, the animals with Betty White. You truly are world champs!”– John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard, Smallville), Co-founder of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

“Your schools are blazing a trail for all of your peers and all corporations to follow. We at Cancer Schmancer are so appreciative for the support we get from Paul Mitchell Schools and the owners, leaders, and Future Professionals who put so much energy into making this possible.”– Fran Drescher (The Nanny, Happily Divorced), Founder of Cancer Schmancer

“I have never in my life seen a corporate philanthropic model like this one. You just quietly raise it and give it, and I am so touched. This process that Paul Mitchell Schools put into action is an incredible way of raising money in a limited amount of time. It’s so brilliantly done that it lights this fire in me to go on to see how can we put this in place in other corporations, churches, and schools. I’m blown away by how generous you guys are with your time and your creativity. And if there’s anyone more creative than beauty people, I just don’t know who they are.”– Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), American Humane Association

Gala Highlights

Deaf comedian and motivational speaker Kathy Buckley introduced eight-year-old Lana Pollock, who attends the No Limits theater program for deaf and hearing disabled children. With no signs of shyness or stage fright, Lana took the microphone and said, “I love to be on the No Limits team because it’s full of friends and it’s a place for me to shine. I CAN DO IT!”

Lana’s mother, Bridget, added: “You’ve given a place for my daughter to stand on stage, just like her sister who has perfect hearing, and now her siblings sit in the audience and cheer her on. When she was 5 years old, she only said ‘Mama’ because when you can’t hear you can’t speak. And now she can tell you all about herself, so thank you very much.”

I was so emotional when Lana spoke, not just because I have seen her growth in language but the confidence she displayed that night. How many eight-year-olds — or adults, for that matter — can grab the mic and speak in front of 800 people without missing a beat? That is what your Future Professionals are giving these children: the confidence to speak, no matter the situation. What a gift to give a child: the gift to have a voice. Paul Mitchell Schools are our number one contributors to our children across the nation, in theater and educational programming. You give the gift that lasts a lifetime for these children. Thank you will never seem enough.” – Kathy Buckley, No Limits

Six additional charities will benefit from the 2013 campaign: Gary Sinise Foundation, Food 4 Africa, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the nonprofit Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, and the Magic Johnson Foundation. Magic Johnson was unable to attend the Gala but surprised a gathering of school owners two days later at their biannual Summit event.

Winners of the “First 100” contest were recognized for raising at least $3,000 individually; these hard-working students and staff members attended the Gala plus a hands-on training the following day with 5-time NAHA winner Vivienne Mackinder and Cao Cosmetics.

Winn and Kathy also presented the second annual Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation Compassionate Service Award to longtime volunteers Tina Black, Debra Dietrich, Brett Jarvis, and Mike Helm. Citing their many years of service, Claybaugh said, “When we started the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation back in 2001 … we made the decision to run this foundation without spending any money. No rent. No salaries. No phone bill. Everything would need to be donated, including time, talents, and resources … But do not for one minute believe that the support and services we receive are not the very best, because they absolutely are … We work with the absolute best talents and professionals.”

Entertainment at the Gala included country sensation Sara Evans and actress/singer Tichina Arnold, co-star of Happily Divorced.

Throughout the evening, the amounts raised by the Top 10 FUNraising schools were announced. In a surprise donation, Supercuts matched the amount raised by the #1 school – $88,000! – plus a personal contribution of $27,000 by Supercuts owners Cheryl and Joey Robinson. “Unbelievable!” Winn said. “They’re not part of our company, they weren’t part of our campaign, but they love what we do and wanted to join in.”

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals create miracles by funding medical care, research, and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year. Countless individuals, organizations, and media partners unite with the 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to help sick and injured kids in their local communities. www.cmnhospitals.org

The Gary Sinise Foundation helps build custom-designed “smart homes” for our nation’s most severely wounded warriors while supporting active duty service members, veterans, first responders, and the children and families of our fallen. www.garysinisefoundation.org

Cancer Schmancer Movement, founded by Fran Drescher, is an education and advocacy organization dedicated to saving lives through prevention and early detection of cancer. By empowering ourselves and the people we love to become medical consumers, listen to our bodies, ask the right questions of our doctors, and seek second opinions, we can prevent cancer and, if we still end up with it, detect cancer in its earliest stages. www.cancerschmancer.org

No Limits offers a one-of-a-kind national theatre group and an after-school educational program that enhance the confidence and communication skills for low-income deaf children, as well as provides underserved deaf children with the leadership and academic skills to be college ready. www.kidswithnolimits.org

Food 4 Africa is committed to supplying at least one vitamin- and mineral-enriched meal each day to children in South Africa, where the HIV/AIDS epidemic has left countless numbers of orphans and more than a million preschool children do not receive sufficient food. www.food4africa.org

Habitat for Humanity has worked in Haiti for more than 27 years. Prior to the earthquake, Habitat had provided housing solutions for more than 2,000 families in Haiti. Soon after the earthquake, Habitat set a goal of serving 50,000 families over five years, helping them move toward safer, more secure, permanent places to call home. To date, Habitat’s construction activities have benefited more than 40,000 families. Paul Mitchell Schools are supporting Habitat Haiti in honor of Vidal Sassoon. www.habitat.org

American Humane Association is the nation’s oldest humane organization with a 135-year-old history. They exist as the nation’s voice for protecting millions of children and animals each year from abuse and neglect through groundbreaking programs, training, and services. Today, they are also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. www.americanhumane.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of America provide a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more through programs and services that instill a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence. Great futures are started each and every day at Boys & Girls Clubs. www.bgca.org

The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation was founded to honor a successful Paul Mitchell School graduate whose struggle against mental illness ended tragically in suicide. The foundation helps cosmetology students, graduates, their families, and cosmetology-related enterprises. Funds have provided educational opportunities, hurricane relief, and support in the fights against breast cancer, domestic violence, and other destroyers of self-esteem. www.paulmitchell.edu/andrew-gomez

About Paul Mitchell Schools

At Paul Mitchell Schools, we believe that education is an adventure and the learning experience needs to be fun. Our instructors—we call them “learning leaders”—are trained to draw out the artist in every student and prepare them to compete in the real world. Through our annual “FUNraising” campaign, we’ve raised and donated millions of dollars in support of many charitable causes. We’ve built homes with Habitat for Humanity, fed thousands of African orphans, and supported the victims of AIDS, breast cancer, homelessness, abuse, and hundreds of other causes.

Established 30 years ago, the Paul Mitchell network is nearly 100,000 salons strong and in 81 countries worldwide; every professional hairdresser knows the Paul Mitchell name. Now, with the arrival of Paul Mitchell Schools, we’ve taken the world of cosmetology education by storm! Visit www.paulmitchell.edu to learn more.

“In the 15-year existence of the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation and our 14 years of FUNraising, the cost incurred in raising $18.2 million has been less than 4% — an amazingly low amount compared to the national average of 25%. Our expenses are little to none: we have no salaries, no rent, and no utilities. Our attorneys and board of directors all donate their time. Even the money raised through our FUNraising Gala ticket sales goes directly to the charities, thanks to generous sponsors who cover the Gala costs. In other words, we don’t spend $100 trying to raise $200!”